Saudi Arabia announces record $228 billion budget for 2014

RIYADH - Agence France-Presse

Saudi Arabian Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi talks to journalists.

Saudi Arabia announced yesterday a record budget of $228 billion for 2014, slightly up from $218.7 billion budgeted for this year, Al-Ekhbariyah state news channel reported.

The world’s largest oil exporter also expected to conclude this year with a budget surplus of 206 billion riyals ($54.9 billion, 40 billion euros), after budgeting for a surplus of around $613 million.

Revenues in 2013 are expected to reach 1.131 trillion riyals compared with an expenditure of 925 billion riyals.

The kingdom had budgeted for revenues of $221 billion in 2013, and an expenditure of $218.7 billion.

A balanced budget expected next year

In 2014, it is expecting a balanced budget of 855 billion riyals, the state television said.

Oil contributes the bulk of revenues for Saudi Arabia, which pumps 9.7 million barrels per day of oil, and has a capacity to produce more than 12 million bpd. The International Monetary Fund expects the Arab world’s largest economy to grow by 3.6 percent and 4.4 percent in 2013 and 2014 respectively, after expanding by 5.1 percent last year.

Saudi Arabia has been using part of its large windfalls of oil revenues to repay its public debt, which has dropped to 75.1 billion riyals, or 2.7 percent of its gross domestic product, according to Al-Ekhbariyah.